Graphical user interface for digital image editing

Abstract

Chromatic adjustments to the overall color balance of the image are presented on one screen and tonal adjustments (such as brightness or contrast) that do not affect the overall color balance are presented on another screen. The chromatic adjustments include at least three independent variables each of which can be separately increased or decreased, while the tonal adjustments include brightness and contrast that can be separately increased or decreased. Such a grouping concentrates the user's attention on only two or three adjustments related to a single readily identifiable deficiency in the original image, and thus not only facilitates image improvement but also makes it easier to selectively undo the effects of some adjustments but not others. Each adjustment is displayed as a pair of preview images which respectively show the effect of a one step increment or decrement of the associated variable. Each pair of preview images are clearly separated from all other images on the same screen and are displayed as two adjacent "buttons" either of which can be actuated by the user to effect the displayed result. The step size is adjustable by means of a single slider control that is effective for all the adjustments on that screen Each image adjustment screen includes thumbnail images corresponding to the original image and to the revised image. The thumbnail revised image is the largest image on the screen and is the focal point of attention for the user.

We claim: 
     
       1. An image processing system comprising: a memory device for storing digital image data,   a display device for selectively displaying a plurality of graphical user interface screens to a user,   a pointer device for selectively operating control buttons on the displayed graphical user interface screen, and   a digital image processor for revising the digital data,   wherein   at least one of said user interface screens is an adjustment screen for adjusting at least two related variables relating to said revised image,   said adjustment screen includes a thumbnail view of a revised image derived from the stored digital image and a respective pair of preview views for each of the related variables,   the graphical user interface screen displays each said pair of preview views as two side-by-side images which respectively represent the application of an increment or decrement of the respective variable to the revised image,   each pair of preview views is spatially separated from all other preview views on the same screen,   each of the preview views is displayed on a respective preview control button, and   when one of the control buttons is selected and operated, the image processor applies the respective increment or decrement to the revised image, and updates the displayed thumbnail view and all of the displayed preview views to incorporate the applied increment or decrement.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment screen further includes a slider control for determining the size of a single increment or decrement. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment screen further includes a counter for accumulating how many steps each variable has been incremented or decremented since the revised image was stored in the memory device. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 3, wherein each counter is labeled with the name of a respective variable. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 1, wherein each preview view is identified by a icon representing a respective variable and whether it is being incremented or decremented. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 5, wherein each icon is displayed on a respective icon control button. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 6, wherein the operation of an icon control button has the same effect as operation of a respective preview control button. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 1, wherein the original image is displayed on a control button which when operated causes the revised image displayed on the thumbnail view to revert to the stored digital image. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 1, wherein the thumbnail image is larger than any of the preview images. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 1, wherein each pair of preview images is located on a different edge of the thumbnail image. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment screen further includes an original thumbnail view corresponding to the stored digital image. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 11, wherein the thumbnail view of the revised image is larger than the thumbnail view of the original image.